Pressure on coastal forest protection amid peak heatwave

The coastal 'green shield' suffers damage

More than 5 hectares of coastal protection forest in Mo Cay Commune, Quang Ngai Province, were destroyed by fire during an early-summer heatwave. The incident not only caused significant damage to forest resources but also highlighted the growing challenges in protecting coastal casuarina forests amid increasingly prolonged and extreme weather conditions.

According to the Mo Cay Commune People's Committee, the fire broke out on June 7 in coastal protection forest areas within Sub-compartment 304 (Village 4) and Sub-compartment 306 (Minh Tan Bac Village). Although local authorities, forest protection forces, and residents responded swiftly to contain and extinguish the blaze, the affected forest area still totaled approximately 5.2 hectares.

The affected area mainly consists of casuarina forests planted in 1978, which serve as a vital coastal protection belt. Field inspections showed that most of the understory vegetation was completely burned, while many casuarina trees suffered scorched trunks, withered foliage, and face a high risk of dying. The damage not only reduced forest cover but also weakened the forest’s capacity to act as a windbreak, stabilize coastal sand dunes, and safeguard the local coastal ecosystem.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the burned area is located in Compartments 68b and 165a of Plot 4, Sub-compartment 304, and Compartment 76a5 of Plot 1, Sub-compartment 306. These forest stands are managed by the residential communities of Village 4 and Minh Tan Bac Village. Forest Protection Station X is currently working with relevant authorities to secure the site and expedite investigations to determine the cause of the fire and identify those responsible in accordance with the law.

To support the investigation, the People's Committee of Mo Cay Commune has called on organizations and individuals to provide any information related to the incident or report suspicious activities involving the illegal use of fire within the coastal protection forest area. Local authorities have pledged to keep informants' identities confidential in accordance with applicable regulations.

At the same time as the investigation into the cause of the fire is underway, the Commune People's Committee has issued a temporary ban on public access to coastal protection forests in Minh Tan Bac, Minh Tan Nam, Village 4, Dam Thuy Bac, Dam Thuy Nam, Luong Nong Bac, and Luong Nong Nam until further notice.

The local authority has also strictly prohibited the use of fire in and around forests, including vegetation burning, land-clearing by fire, and the use of any heat sources that could trigger wildfires. Illegal logging, unauthorized harvesting of forest products, encroachment on forest land, illegal mineral extraction, and all forms of forest resource destruction will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

To strengthen post-fire site protection, the commune police have been assigned to maintain security and public order, prevent unauthorized entry into the burned area, and coordinate with relevant agencies in investigating the incident. Local forest rangers will continue assessing the extent of the damage, intensify patrols in high-risk areas, and advise authorities on handling violations of forestry regulations.

According to Tran Ngoc Nam, Chairman of the Mo Cay Commune People's Committee, coastal protection forests play a particularly important role in serving as windbreaks, stabilizing sand dunes, mitigating storm impacts, and protecting coastal ecosystems. Immediately after the fire broke out, the commune activated its emergency response plan and mobilized around 100 personnel, including forest rangers, police officers, civil defense forces, and local residents, to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.

“The current heatwave remains extremely severe, and the risk of forest fires continues to be high. In addition to maintaining round-the-clock readiness, the commune is stepping up public awareness campaigns on forest fire prevention and suppression and is determined to prevent any use of fire in forest areas during periods of extreme heat,” Mr. Nam said.

Strengthening preventive measures

Quang Ngai Province is home to more than 1,000 hectares of coastal protection forest, predominantly casuarina stands. Casuarina trees contain significant amounts of resin and essential oils, making them highly flammable under hot and dry conditions. Mo Cay Commune alone has approximately 240 hectares of coastal protection forest.

In recent days, the forest floor vegetation has become extremely dry, while increasing numbers of visitors to coastal areas have further heightened the risk of forest fires, making vigilance and preventive measures more critical than ever.

According to the Quang Ngai Provincial Forest Protection Sub-Department, the province currently has about 134 hectares of forest classified as being at high risk of fire across 55 communes and wards. From the beginning of 2026 to May 30, six forest fires have occurred in the province, damaging more than 7.2 hectares of forest. This is an increase of three cases compared to the same period last year.

The forestry sector noted that most of the fires originated from human activities such as burning vegetation, waste disposal, or careless use of fire in and around forest areas.

Nguyen Khanh Ngoc, Deputy Head of the Quang Ngai Provincial Forest Protection Sub-Department, said the agency has advised the Provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Environment to implement coordinated measures for forest management, protection, and fire prevention and control. These efforts focus on the strict implementation of Directive No. 08/CT-UBND dated January 26, 2026, on strengthening forest management, protection, and forest fire prevention and control across the province.

To improve the effectiveness of emergency response, on May 31, the Quang Ngai Provincial People’s Committee issued a coordination regulation to mobilize forces, vehicles, and equipment for forest fire suppression. The regulation emphasizes the “4 on-the-spot” principle, combined with “5 readiness” measures, to ensure the fastest possible deployment of resources when incidents occur.

At the same time, the province is stepping up the application of technology, including forest fire warning systems, AI-powered cameras, satellite imagery, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), to enable early detection of fire hotspots.

With hot weather forecasts expected to continue, forest protection pressure in Quang Ngai particularly in coastal protection forests is becoming increasingly severe. Authorities strongly advise residents to avoid using fire in and around forest areas to minimize the risk of wildfires and help safeguard the coastal “green shields.”